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As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer presses for accountability in infrastructure failures this week and asks residents to help each other, the company that operates the Edenville Dam that collapsed pointed a finger elsewhere.

Boyce Hydro, for the second straight day Thursday, issued a statement pointing a finger at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) for the dam failure and draining of Wixom Lake, which spurred the evacuation of 10,000 residents and led officials to declare an emergency.

Meanwhile, EGLE confirmed Friday morning that the Sanford Dam, downriver of the Edenville Dam, also failed. It had been unclear whether the second dam had breached — or whether water was just spilling over.

Tim Evans in front of the Fiero Forever museum he owned was devastated by flood waters along Saginaw Rd. in Sanford Michigan Thursday, May 21, 2020. The Sanford dam that held the Tittabawassee river failed causing massive flooding destroying homes and businesses.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

Boyce said that EGLE cracked down on its Wixom Lake water levels reductions the past two winters, and, along with Wixom Lake property owners, pressured the dam operator to restore higher water on the reservoir the past two springs.

The dam became the state's regulatory responsibility after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission revoked Boyce's hydroelectric power generating license at the Edenville Dam in September 2018, citing long-standing, unresolved safety problems — including an inability to safely deal with a flood event.

The lake levels were raised again for summer 2019, but Boyce again reduced them by nearly 8 feet in November 2019 — over the protests of EGLE, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the state Attorney General's Office.

National Guard rescues 21 people, pets too

Michigan National Guard soldiers helped evacuate 21 individuals, as well as six dogs and two cats, the State Police said early Friday.

The National guard Guard members utilized equipment such as Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs) that are capable of driving through high water for this mission.

Before-and-after flooding images

Satellite images — taken from space nearly a year apart from each other — show just how devastating the flood damage is in Midland County.

The record flooding this week destroyed homes, cars, roads, bridges and other property; damaged the sewer system, and forced 10,000 people to evacuate the area along the river, leaving many homeless and without electricity.

These natural-color images show flooding across Midland County as observed by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. The pair show the Tittabawassee River on May 20, 2020 (right), compared to June 3, 2019 (left).(Photo: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens)

The natural-color images from Landsat 8, an American Earth observation satellite, depict the two mid-Michigan dams — Edenville and Sanford — that failed and the Tittabawassee River.

Whitmer urged Michiganders to 'reach out'

Whitmer and President Donald Trump seemed to set aside deep partisan differences briefly on Thursday and agree on one thing: The state's residents need more help.

Trump granted Whitmer's request to declare the flooding an emergency, a crucial step in getting federal assistance for the 10,000 residents who were evacuated, losing homes, vehicles and electricity.

The Democratic governor, who has been a frequent target of the Republican president's tweets and criticism, also said that if the president were to later tour the devastation in Midland, she agreed to accompany him.

Whitmer also reiterated that Michiganders are living through tough times, but need to remain vigilant — and helpful — especially during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a press conference Thursday, May 21, 2020 in Lansing.(Photo: State of Michigan)

"If you know someone who has been impacted, please reach out," she said, referring especially to the mid-Michigan residents whose lives had been turned upside down. "This is truly a crisis in the middle of a crisis."

She said her first priority is to help people who have lost their homes, praising first responders, National Guard, volunteers and singled out a generous Michigander who offered their Up North cottage for a family who had been evacuated to use.

Whitmer also urged that residents continue to take precautions to protect themselves from the coronavirus this holiday weekend, including wearing masks, keeping a 6-foot distance from others — and washing their hands.

Floods force detours to Up North stops

Michigan Department of Transportation reports nine active road closures as of Thursday afternoon. The longest stretch of closure is eastbound US-10 from US-127 to N. River Road in Midland and Clare County.

Most of the impacted routes are those that run east-west that are used to span the Tittabawassee River. US-23 in Omer is closed over the Rifle River and is not expected to reopen until at least next week.

There are no known sinkholes due to the flooding, an MDOT spokesperson said.

Tim Evans in front of the Fiero Forever museum he owned was devastated by floodwaters along Saginaw Rd. in Sanford Michigan on May 21, 2020. The Sanford dam that held the Tittabawassee river failed causing massive flooding destroying homes and businesses. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Pontiac Fiero's are spread around the flooded downtown in Sanford, Michigan May 20, 2020 after the popular Fieros Forever car museum was destroyed when floodwaters overwhelmed the town when the Sanford dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

The building for the Fieros Forever museum sits destroyed in the flooded downtown in Sanford, Michigan May 20, 2020. The Sanford dam failed sending floodwaters overwhelmed the town causing damage to businesses and homes. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Linda Geiger goes through what's left of her Accounting and Tax business looking for records in Sanford Michigan on May 21, 2020. The Sanford dam that held the Tittabawassee river failed causing massive flooding destroying homes and businesses. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

People come out to survey the remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan many which are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Ron Cochran puts on waders so he can walk down inside the basement of his mother's Cass Avenue home in Sanford, Michigan to see if he can salvage any food out of her freezer May 20, 2020. The home was overcome by flooding after the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Rosemary Cochran checks on her cat Skeeter outside of her home in Sanford, Michigan as she tries to salvage what she can from her Cass Avenue home after flooding covered the area. Cochran could not get her cat when it was time to evacuate, she went home May 20, 2020, tro find the cat hiding in the top oh her closet and ok. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Ron Cochran walks down inside the basement of his mother's Cass Avenue home in Sanford, Michigan to see if he can salvage any food out of her freezer May 20, 2020. The home was overcome by flooding after the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

People come out to survey the remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan many which are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Business owners try to salvage what they can from their buildings in downtown Sanford, Michigan as many are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

People come out to survey the remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan many which are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

People come out to survey the remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan many which are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

A mound of debris washed up next to what is left of the Sanford Dam May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

A person crosses the road next to the Sanford Dam where debris washed over the roadway May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

A woman stops at a fence to look at the mound of debris washed up next to what is left of the Sanford Dam May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

People come out to survey the remnants of buildings near downtown Sanford, Michigan many which are still surrounded by water May 20, 2020. Many homes and business in and around downtown were overcome by flood waters when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Diane Dyament and her husband Joe, both of Detroit, check out the damage on Curtis Road Bridge in Edenville, Mich., Wednesday, May 20, 2020. They drove up from Detroit to check out Diane's childhood cottage near Wixom Lake but roads are blocked. Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

The Tittabawasse River comes up the doorstep of the Midland County Courthouse in downtown Midland, Mich. that is under 9-10 feet of water after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

The historical Upper Bridge is under water at the Tittabawasse river after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area in Midland, Mich., photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Downtown Midland, Mich. is under 9-10 feet of flood water from Tittabawasse river after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

The National Guard crosses the M-20 bridge after evacuating people from the Tittabawasse river in the Midland area after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

David Reif, 29, and his fiance Kristen Gerstenberger, 26, both of Midland, Mich walk with their dog downtown to see the flooding firsthand after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Onlookers cross the M-20 bridge to see the flooding in downtown Midland, Mich. that is under 9-10 feet of water from the Tittabawasse River after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

An onlookers checks out the M-20 bridge to see the flooding in downtown Midland, Mich. that is under 9-10 feet of water from the Tittabawasse River after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

The National Guard crosses the M-20 bridge after evacuating people from the Tittabawasse River in the Midland area after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Downtown Midland, Mich. is under 9-10 feet of flood water from Tittabawasse river after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Onlookers check out the M-20 bridge to see the flooding in downtown Midland, Mich. that is under 9-10 feet of water from the Tittabawasse river after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Downtown Midland, Mich. is under 9-10 feet of water from Tittabawasse river after the Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

This photo shows a view of a dam on Wixom Lake in Edenville, Mich., Tuesday, May 19, 2020. People living along two mid-Michigan lakes and parts of a river have been evacuated following several days of heavy rain that produced flooding and put pressure on dams in the area. Kaytie Boomer, AP

Community volunteers gather donations and make beds for incoming residents that have been evacuated from their homes in Midland, Mich. after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Tyler Marciniak of Grand Rapids carries hanging plants through floodwater as he helps his father, Tom Marciniak, assess the damage to his home on Red Oak Drive on Wixom Lake, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Beaverton, Mich. Katy Kildee, AP

Community volunteers gather donations and make beds for incoming residents that have been evacuated from their homes in Midland, Mich. after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Community volunteers Ryan Kreusch, 18, and Meagan McInerney, 30, gather donations and make beds for incoming residents that have been evacuated from their homes in Midland, Mich. after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Community volunteers gather donations and make beds for incoming residents that have been evacuated from their homes in Midland, Mich. after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Community volunteers gather donations and make beds for incoming residents that have been evacuated from their homes in Midland, Mich. after Edenville and Sanford dams failed flooding the area, photographed on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press

Mark Musselman brings a chair to the front of his house from the back yard, wading through floodwater, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Edenville, Mich. People living along two mid-Michigan lakes and parts of a river have been evacuated following several days of heavy rain that produced flooding and put pressure on dams in the area. Katy Kildee, AP

Floodwater surrounds Wixom Lake Gas & Launch, Tuesday, May 19, 2020, along the Tittabawassee River in Beaverton, Mich. An evacuation order was released the night before for residents of Sanford and Wixom Lakes, warning of "imminent dam failure." Katy Kildee, AP

A view of the flooded area near the Sanford Dam on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Residents were told to evacuate due to the dams on Sanford and Wixom Lakes no longer being able to control or contain the amount of water flowing through the spill gates. Kaytie Boomer, AP

A view of the flooded area near the Sanford dam on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Residents were told to evacuate due to the dams on Sanford and Wixom Lakes no longer being able to control or contain the amount of water flowing through the spill gates. Kaytie Boomer, AP

A view of the flooded area near the Sanford Dam on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Residents were told to evacuate due to the dams on Sanford and Wixom Lakes no longer being able to control or contain the amount of water flowing through the spill gates. Kaytie Boomer, AP

Freeland resident Cyndi Ballien walks up to get a closer look as heavy rain floods North Gleaner Road near its intersection with Tittabawassee Road on May 19, 2020, in Saginaw County, Mich. Jake May, The Flint Journal via AP

Leo Michels works on cleaning one of his hats as he salvages items from his home in Sanford after May 20, 2020. He was able to get himself, his family and his dogs out of the home an hour before it was overcome with flood waters. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

As many of the contents of her home sit in the sun to dry out, Rosemary Cochran heads back inside of her Cass Avenue home in Sanford, Michigan to try and retrieve more items to salvage May 20.2020. Her home, along with many others were damaged from flooding when the Sanford Dam failed. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Skeeter the cat, left and Skylar the dog, wait outside of Rosemary Cochran's home in Sanford, Michigan as their owner tries to salvage what she can from her Cass Avenue home after flooding covered the area. Cochran could not get her cat when it was time to evacuate, she went home May 20, 2020, tro find the cat hiding in the top oh her closet and ok. Kelly Jordan, Detroit Free Press

Red Cross welcomes evacuees to shelters

The American Red Cross and local governments are offering evacuated residents a place to stay, meals and some health services.

The shelters are set up with COVID-19 health and safety restrictions, such as requiring people to wear masks and stay six-feet apart. Still, officials said, many people are sleeping in their cars to limit contact with others.

But, when floodwaters from the Tittabawassee River began creeping toward his business earlier this week, he scrambled to move his cars to dry ground, but the only one that went untouched was the vehicle he drove home.